Engine Dilemma

Got a bit of a dilemma. I've got a 2003 Zafira 1.8 dual fuel elegance with 176k on the clock. She looks and drives like a 60,000 miler even garages have commented on it. The engine has no rattles and doesn't smoke but uses a stupid amount of oil, probably more than 5 litres per 1000 miles. I know the ecotec engines are prone to this, she's been thirsty on oil since I bought her 4 years ago but has got gradually worse and worse. The question is what shall I do?

options:

1. Do nothing and keep pouring in the oil.2. Have the engine worked on, new rings etc (obv this means car off the road for a week or so)3. Try and find a 2nd hand engine (Mileage can't be guaranteed and engine could be worse)4. Buy a 2nd hand engine and get it reconditioned. (no idea how much this would cost)5. Fit a recon engine but this will cost £££

I rang around and the average price for a 2nd hand engine is £350 and I know someone who will fit an engine for £190

I made some enquiries about a recon engine but kept being told the best place to get a recon is vauxhall, knowing they would be expensive I decided to give them a ring to find out. Basically £2500 and they give you £1000 back when you send them your old engine. The guy I spoke to tried to pass me onto the service dept to get a fitting price, I refused of course lol.

how can she not smoke if she uses 5ltrs in 1000 miles..vaux allow 1ltr every 1000 miles..she must burn it or have a large leak somewhere..surely..does she not smoke when you boot the throttle for a while then clear..worn valve guide or worn valve stem seals would cause this and you would only see smoke when you put your foot down..?

for me it would depend on if it's worth it, how much is the zaf worth etc, even if you rebuld the bottom end when you come to sell it has still done 176K+ in the eyes of a buyer

personally if it's not worth much i'd shove some cheap supermarket 20/50's in it and runs it till it's dead and in the meantime try and source a lower mileage second hand lump (and I wouldn't pay £350!)

good opportunity for a conversion methinks......... you could be brave and attempt a red top conversion(never been done in a zaffy AFAIK). lot of modifying and fabrication work to get it to fit, OR........... did you know that a veccy 2.6 or 3.2 v6 will go in to the zaffy without an awful lot of fettling, the main headache with that conversion is wiring as you have to use the v6 ecu.

good opportunity for a conversion methinks......... you could be brave and attempt a red top conversion(never been done in a zaffy AFAIK). lot of modifying and fabrication work to get it to fit, OR........... did you know that a veccy 2.6 or 3.2 v6 will go in to the zaffy without an awful lot of fettling, the main headache with that conversion is wiring as you have to use the v6 ecu.

has that given you food for thought???..........

Hmmmm, ideas ... ideas

Just drove back from spending a few days in Birmingham and now my gearbox is shagged!